7 fascinating books [for your summer reading list]5 min read

Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading. And I love to read! With a few other things in my life slowing down temporarily I’m starting to work on my summer reading list.

I know that the books in this list will make me laugh, cry, think, create, and challenge me in many ways that I know I need to be challenged right now. It’s a list of books that I’m really excited about, so I thought I’d share it with you.

So take a look, let me know what you think, and share what stuff is making your reading list this summer. I’d love to hear what you plan to get into and why! And you’ll have an opportunity to get a free copy of one of these books (details at the end of this post).

Synopsis: This book, released before the earthquake in Haiti, is about Kent’s journey to living and working with some of the poorest people in the world.

Why it’s on my list: Kent seems to be an amazing storyteller, and has an incredible story to tell. Some of the things that he’s come to realize about the message of the Bible, and his resulting experiences will inspire and challenge anyone who dares to open these pages.

Synopsis: A mother and daughter share the story of a trip to Africa that transformed their lives forever. Fighting an AIDS epidemic in a place overwhelmed by heart-wrenching poverty forced them to change and grow in ways that they never expected.

Why it’s on my list: Everyone I know who has touched this book has walked away in tears, and with a strong desire to sell everything and move to Africa. It’s apparent that the stories and experiences shared in this book are life-changing… not just for the people who wrote it, but also for those who read it.

Synopsis: Written by a couple of brilliant, scholarly minds this book draws the Christian (and atheist) into a real conversation where we put everything on the table. It’s not as much of an attack on the principles of the New Atheism as it is an invitation to address some real, cultural issues.

Why it’s on my list: I enjoy a book like this that deals with real issues that face the church today, and the New Atheist movement is one that has launched a full-scale attack on the church. I believe that we (Christians) should always be ready to have intelligent conversation about these types of issues.

Synopsis: The key (as the authors of this book would propose) to the church winning the battle is that we (Christians everywhere) become more missional. This book provides a blueprint for starting a movement in the church that results in exponential growth.

Why it’s on my list: Being heavily involved in ministry in my church, I like to stay current with trends and thought happening with other church leaders. This idea of a missional church is one that’s gaining momentum, and this seems to be one of the landmark books on the subject.

Synopsis: It’s hard to describe this one any differently than how it’s described on amazon.com… A collection of poems about Barbie dolls, theology, quantum physics, etc.

Why it’s on my list: I keep promising myself that I’ll get more in touch with my artistic side. So I’m picking this one up from my friend (and boss from HighCallingBlogs.com) Marcus Goodyear, because I really dig the poetry that I’ve seen from him so far.

Synopsis: This 12-week course tells a unique story, but it will also invite you to personal growth. You’ll find various options for discovery and participation: free writing, writing response, physical and mental play, and blogging (or alternatives).

Why it’s on my list: This one comes from my other friend (and boss from HighCallingBlogs.com) L.L.Barkat. And no, I’m not trying to suck up to either of them, but I sincerely appreciate their work! I’m grabbing this one because it looks to be a promising handbook for building a deeper connection with our God.

Synopsis: In his latest book, Craig deals with this issue of the cafeteria-line Christian. The Gospel of Jesus isn’t a pick-and-choose theology, but one that asks us to fully believe in Him and Who He Is.

Why it’s on my list: Everyone I know who has looked at this book is raving over it. This seems to be one of the hottest books of the season, and for good reason. Craig is the real-deal, and his message is spot-on. I expect this book to challenge me and call me out for where I may not be fully living as Christ asks me too.

So that’s it! This is what I’ll be trying to work through this summer! Not too bad, huh?

I also want to give a shout out to a few books that were mentioned on the Facebook page when I asked what everyone is reading…

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers – A cool retelling of the story of the prophet Hosea.

Thanks Sean! I'm actually almost done with Annan's book 'Following Jesus Through the Eye of the Needle'. I'm seriously considering doing that one as one of my group blogging projects that I know you like, especially since I'm going to Haiti later this Summer.

that 'little book' is for me one of the most anticipated books of poetry since @bradleyhathaway's 'all the hits, so far'! i really look forward to diving into the poetic mind (and heart) of THE marcus goodyear!

i feel blessed to be on the high calling team with you guys, and love being a part of spreading the vision of such a wonderful ministry! thank you!